Apparatus for manipulating plate glass and similar materials



Feb. l?, 1931. 1:- DRYON 1,792,576

APYRATUS FOR MANIPULTNG PLATE GLASS AND SMILA'R MATERIALS Filed Dec. I5 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 a l Il' g! 5 l' n;

` Feb. 17, 1931.

P. DRYoN 1,792,576

v APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING PLATE1 GLASS AND SIMILAR MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yFiled Deo. 3. 1928 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNiTEosrATss PATENT OFFICE .PAUL iiLaYoN, or AUVELAIS, BELGIUM APPARATUS FOR MAHIPULATING PLATE GLASS AND SIMILAR MATERIALS v Application filed December 3, 1928, Serial No. 323,362, and in Belgium October 24, 1928.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manipulating plateiglass and similar materials, in which the plates of glass are lifted by means of suckers carried by atrame which can be displaced by means of a travelling crane. 1

' The object of the invention is to construct a. simple apparatus which can both transport and turn over the glass plates, this apparatus being easily. adapted to any travelling crane Vand capable of use in the workshops where the finishing is done on platforms, as well asl in those where thev finishing is done on tables Y which are themselves subjected to a'continuous movement ofA displacement. The apparatus according to this invention can be used with particular advantage in the latter case, since the time for the transport of the glass plates from one `line of tables 'to the other and for turning them over is rathershort,'

owing to the relatively greatspeed of movement of thetablesr 1 e Y The apparatus according to this invention l comprises two frames which can bedisplaced separat-ely and be brought in Contact with the glass plates on bothsidesof the latter.

Each Vframe-can. pivot on the end of arms carried by a fittingsuspended from a hook loff the travelling crane, said frames being preferably provided with handles 4to allow them to be guided'during their displacement.

- Theinvention also provides that said arms f may pivot with resp ectto the fitting. suspended from the hook of the travelling crane; and 'it `:further provides that said farms be bala'nced on their pivots by lmeansotcounterweights, ot which theposition can be regu- The pivoting ot said'arins may beeiieoted by means of a motor, and accordingvtoone 7Vfform of construction, this motorA consists of a piston which may be disp-laced in a cylinder,

Vwhen a vacuumpisscreated at oneE end of the Y latter, said piston being attached to said arms -by ineansoi a 4connecting rod.

i Other details fand features,l of the invention areisetfforth. inthe description ot the annexed ldrawingswhich represent, as an example only, one formof construction. of the inveni-tion.,

vlation for the transportation and turning over of the glass plates, in the case where the Ylatter are treated on two rows of tables.

The apparatus shown in F ig. l consists of f2 two frames 2 and 3, of which the suol-:ers 2a and 3a arel connected in a known manner to an exhanster, not shown, by means ot' thei'lexible tubes 2?) and 35. These frames are carried `by arms 4 and 5respectively, through pivots 4a and 5a. Y

The sucker carriers 2d and 3d are divided by theframeQ or 3 in two lengths and i/ so that ai is greater than y.

In thisfashion, the'suckers of onet'rame are opposite those 'of the other, when these trames are in 4their position of stable equilibrium". A f

'To prevent these trames from turning coinpletely over, the `invention further provides that the arms 4' and.5 `are fitted with stops -`against which certain sucker carriers can rocks or swings around apivot 7, while the arms 5 are carried byV a lever 8 which pivots v on the same pivot 7. AThis pivot 7 is carried by the cheeks 9410i a fitting 9,.'suspended from the hook-10 ot a" travelling crane, not

shown. Y .v i

"The: levers 6l and 8 carryrespectively the counterweightsV 6a and 8a, vwhich can occupy different positions. The arms 4 and 5 carried, respectively, `by these levers are vcaused to swing around the pvot 7 by means of a motor; lthismovenient being eected,l forV example, in the following manner Withthe' f1ever6 a connecting rod is connected, jointed to a piston 12 moving in a cylinder 13, while connected to the lever 8 is a connecting rod 14 jointed to a piston 15 moving in a cylinder 16. The two cylinders 13 and 16 are firmly fixed to the fitting 9. They are connected to the exhauster mentioned above by means ot the flexible tubes 13a and 16a, and, together with their respective pistons and associated parts, they jointly constitute the motor above referred to.

I The tubes 2b and 3b, 13a and 16al may be united to the same machine controlled by the workman on the travelling crane', so that a vacuum may be created in all the suckers of one frame, or in all the suckers of both frames, in one of the cylinders 18 or 16.

Then the glass plate 17 is suspended by the frame 2 as shown in Fig. 1, the fitting 9 can pivot with respect to the point of suspension of the hook 10. Moreover, trame 2 can pivot on the pivots 4a. The traine 3 remains suspended because a vacuum is formed in the cylinder 16.

On starting from the position shown in r Fig. 1, and it it is desired to place the glass plate 17 suspended by the suckers 2a, onto a table 18, the whole apparatus is allowed to descend in the direction of the arrow X, while the travelling crane is displaced at a suitable speed in the direction of arrow Y.

The frame 2 pivots with the glass plate 17 round the edge 17a of the latter, and by which it rests on the table 18. Two Workmen facilitate this pivotal movement by means of the handles as 2f (similar handles 3f are provided or the trame 3).

When the glass plate rests on the table 18, air is allowed to enter the suckers 2a. The apparatus can then be displaced to take up a new plate of glass.

If, instead ot placing the plate of glass 17 directly on the table 18, it has irst. to be turned over, said plate is first lifted slightly from table or it is placed beside the table. Then the frame 3 is lowered by allowing the air to enter the cylinder 16 above the piston 15, so that the suckers 3a fix themselves on the side of the plate 17 opposite to that onA which are fixed the suckers 2a of frame 2.

Since the arms land 5 ot the trames 2 and 8 turn on the same pivot 7, the frames 2 and 3 exert equal pressure on the glass plate 17, if the position of the counterweights 6a and 8a has been suitably arranged.

The apparatus is then in the position shown in Fig. 2. vVhen the frame 3 rests iirinly against the glass 17 a vacuum is created in thelsuclrers 3a, and then air is allowed to enter the suckers 2a. Then a vacuum is created in the cylinder 13 above the piston 12, `which causes the trame 2 to pivot in a clockwise direction.

The glass plate is thus Vsuspended bythe frame 3 which assumes, iiiiespeet to 'tlie'vertical'plane-:passing through the-pivotA 7, a

symmetrical position to that shown in Fig. 1 for the frame 2.

The invention provides further a safety device to Vsustain in a raised position, the frame not then in use in suspending the glass plate. This device may consist, for instance, of a hook 19 join-ted to the arm 5 and arranged to hook onto a projection 2O on the fitting 9. This device, which may be released by any suitable means, holds up the frame to which it is attached', even in case air should accidentally enter the cylinder of j which the piston regulates the position of the frame.

In the case where the glassplates are attached to two rows of tables moving in opposite direct-ions (Fig. 4), when one side of the glass plates is finished, tor instance in the row 21, they have to be turned over and transported to the row 22,. where the other side is treated. With an apparatus according to this invention, this operation can be very easily andy rapidly performed, with the minimum of danger for the workmen and the minimum of breakage tor the glass plates.

It is evident thatthe invention is not eX- clnsiveiy limited to the precise construction shown, but that alterations may be made in the shape, the arrangement and the constitution or' its component parts, Without exceeding the scope of the invention as claimed.

Especially, the driving system for pivoting the arms which support the frames, may be operated in any convenient manner, for instance, by an electric motor or even by hand power.

That I claim is:

1. An apparatus for transporting and turning over glass plates and similar materials, comprising suckers for supporting the plates, two correlated frames carrying the suckers, a single fitting common to both frames for supporting them, and means for displacing the two trames separately and for bringing them into contact with the plates on both sides or" the latter.

2. An apparatus for transporting and turning over glass plates and similar materials, comprising suckers tor supporting the plates, two correlated iframes carrying the suckers, pivots around which said trames can be turned, a iitting adapted to be suspended from the hook of a traveling crane and provided with pivots, arms carrying the pivots Y of the frames and pivoting around the pivots carried said fitting, and a balance weight of variable position on the said arms for counterhalancing, about the pivotsV of said fitting, the weight of saidarms and of the frame they. support.

3. An apparatus for transporting and 'turning over glass plates and similar materials, comprising suckers for supporting the plates, two correlated frames carrying the suekersp1vots aroundwliich said trames' can be turned, a fitting adapted to be suspended from the hook of a Vtraveling crane and provided with pivots, armscarrying the pivots of the frames and pivoting around the pivots carried by said fitting, and a motor for turning each of the said arms around the pivots of the said fitting.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in

which the Vmotor operates by difference ofl pressure. l

5. An apparatus for transporting and turning over glass 'plates and similar materials, comprising suckers for supporting the plates, two correlated frames carrying the suckers, pivots 'around which said frames can be turned, a itting adapted to be sus- Y pended from the hook of a traveling crane and provided With pivots, arms carrying thepivots of the frames and pivoting around the pivots carried by said'itting, a connecting rod connected to said arms, a piston con neoted to said rod, a cylinder wherein said piston is arranged, and a tube for exhausting the air in the cylinder.

G. An apparatus for transporting and turning over glass plates and similar mate! rials, comprising suckers for supporting the plates, tvvo correlated frames carrying the suckers, pivots around which said frames can be turned, a Vfitting adapted to be suspended from the hook of a traveling Crane, a pivot carried by said fitting, and arms carrying the pivots of the frames and turningV around the pivot carried by said fitting.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signatur Y PAUL DRYON. 

